Klamath Falls law enforcement agencies and the 173rd Fighter Wing face
challenges where missions with growing demands suffer shrinking
resources and Wing and community leaders say partnerships are playing a
vital role in maintaining those missions.

"We have saved money for our guys going [on temporary duty] since the
closest facilities are at Camp Rilea and Redmond," said Chief Master
Sgt. Joseph Stickel, 173rd Security Forces superintendent. "It also
saves a lot of other local agencies money because they can use the
buildings, so it's a good partnership opportunity."

During an exercise the KFPD SWAT Team practiced mounted approaches on an
all-terrain vehicle operated by a 173rd Security Forces Defender
normally used for recovery operations. Upon dismounting, the team
entered and cleared numerous simulated urban training structures on the
base.

Those structures called a mount village simulate an urban environment
and are the only ones available in the region. Security Forces troops
constructed the entire village as a self-help project in their off-duty
hours.

Detective Jack Daniel, KFPD SWAT assistant team leader, explained to
Airmen and police officers that this partnership allows local law
enforcement agencies to provide a high quality training experience to
their personnel while reducing training costs. Also, the proximity to
the KFPD headquarters allows them to respond to a real-word incident,
should the need arise.

Efforts like this garnered the 173rd Fighter Wing the Air Force Chief of
Staff Team Excellence Award for the Air National Guard for its
Public-Public, Public-Private program, also known as P4. This is an
initiative designed to find new and innovative ways to partner with the
local community.